UFC headed to Fort Lauderdale for Hometown Throwdown

Over the past few weeks the UFC unveiled a number of match-ups scheduled for a June 8 card including a headlining tilt between top flyweights Demetrious Johnson and Ian McCall. However, while the bouts may have been in place, the show’s actual location remained up in the air due to a contest allowing fans to vote in hopes of bringing the Octagon to their hometown. The group’s opinions have since been tallied with Fort Lauderdale emerging as the city of destination.

Officials confirmed the matter earlier today.

“I’m excited to bring the UFC back to Florida,” exclaimed UFC President Dana White. “The first fight between Johnson and McCall was incredible, and on June 8, they will finally finish the fight to determine who is going to fight for the first-ever flyweight title.”

Adding a level of interaction even those outside of the region can participate in, the UFC has also decided to allow the public to vote on one of three fights to open up the televised broadcast – Mike Pierce vs. Carlos Eduardo Rocha, Lance Benoist vs. Seth Baczynski, or Scott Jorgensen vs. Eddie Wineland.

The winner of the latter bout will advance to the final of a flyweight tournament and fight Joseph Benavidez for the right to lay claim to the UFC’s inaugural divisional title. McCall-Johnson met before in early March, turning in an exciting effort marred by an officiating mistake preventing a fourth and final round by miscalculating the scores, initially ruling the bout a win for Johnson rather than a Draw as it should have been.